Gresley Rovers vs Tranmere Rovers X1
Gresley showed boss Steve Dolby's pre-season plans are moving in the right direction with a full merited victory over a Tranmere Rovers X1 at the Moat Ground last night.
The Merseysiders brought a side made up mainly of reserves but with a sprinkling of experienced players including keeper Eric Nixon and winger John Morrissey, both Endsleigh League regulars for the past seven seasons.
But Rovers answered Dolby's call for more cohesion, shape and endurance by producing by far their best performance yet of the summer programme.
Keeper Mark Wheatly staked his claim for a first team place in the absence of the holidaying Bob Aston in a busy first half in which the scoreline remained blank despite action in both goalmouths.
Last season reserve team skipper was in action early on , making good saves from Dave Challenor and Alan Morgan, but Rovers with striker Mark Hurst especially lively, made just as many openings with Ady Mann seeing a thumping effort blocked and Nixon saving from Tony Marsden and Dave Taylor.
Nick Harland should have done better than to place a free header from Morrissey's cross straight into Wheatly's hands but Nixon then had to go full stretch to tip over Hurst's shot while Richard Denby, set up by Taylor, shot wide from a good position.
There was no sign of Rovers' momentum slowing as the game moved into its second period and only an excellent save by Nixon, at the foot of the post prevented Taylor, flicking Peter Weston's left wing shot goalwards, from giving Rovers the lead seven minutes from the restart.
Five minutes later, though, Rovers made the breakthrough they deserved when Mann curled a right wing corner under the Tranmere bar and defender Jamie Jardine, under pressure from Stuart Evans, headed into his own net.
Tranmere raised the tempo in a bid to find an equaliser but with triallist Stuart Ford replacing Wheatly at the interval, commanding his box Gresley stayed a nose ahead to post a notable victory.
Gresley Rovers (0) 1
Tranmere Rovers (0) 0
Scorer: Jardine (og)
